CONCERNS are growing among BCP Council staff regarding a proposed new pay structure that could lead to wage cuts.
Employees have received letters outlining the potential changes, asking them to agree to the new pay structure “without details about what their pay outcomes will be”.
Senior officers at BCP Council said they are working to establish a fair pay structure to address salary discrepancies among staff in similar roles following the council reorganisation in 2019.
The council has confirmed that 85 per cent of staff will either receive a pay rise or maintain their current income, whereas 15 per cent will see their wages reduced.
Despite the council's assertion the process has been "fair and transparent," several employees have come forward to challenge this claim.
The Daily Echo spoke to a ten-year council employee who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the proposal.
They said: “I understand that there needs to be some alignment, but the lack of transparency in this process is concerning.
“What we are being told does not match what we are experiencing.”
Employees have been told their current pay will be protected until June 2026, but said “staff are threatening to quit before the pay protection period ends”.
Another council employee spoke about the pay decrease, saying 'workshop staff could see a 25 per cent reduction'.
They said: “It will impact me and my family massively.
“I may even need to look into getting a second job to cover the shortfall in wage.
“It’s an absolute insult, leaving my colleagues and me feeling undervalued and deeply disappointed.
“I personally have worked for BCP Council for over ten years and never experienced anything like this before.”
Cllr Jeff Hanna, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transformation, resources and governance, said: “Working with our unions, we have minimised the number of staff whose salaries will be reduced and are providing a period of pay protection to smooth this out.
“We are firmly committed to achieving a fair pay and grading structure and a competitive terms and conditions package for all of our staff, which is both affordable within the council’s finances and will enable us to continue to recruit and retain the skills and talent we need to deliver the best possible services for our residents.
“Overall, we are maintaining positive discussions with both the GMB and Unison and hope the outcome of the current union ballots will give our employees the reassurance that this complex process has ended in agreement, and can be put in place.”
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